What literary delights are you delving into this December?

[Doug Graves]

Schismatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling. Alastair Reynolds was right - my face is melting.

 

[Marky Lazer]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

 

[Ursa major]

I have just finished The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross. In fact, there are two stories:

• The Atrocity Archive;
• The Concrete Jungle.

The former is just under three times the length of the latter, which is a novella. The protagonist and most of the characters are found in both stories, which between them introduce us to the work, and workings, of a secret branch of the U.K. government.

The story is written in the present tense, first person singular. While this allows Bob Howard, the protagonist, to let the reader learn about "The Laundry" when he does, it has a serious defect. Bob Howard is a seriously dull person, a self-described geek (which isn't so bad) and, on occasions, a bit of a whinger. This isn't a big problem most of the time - there are plenty of things going on - but when the action sags, the story suffers badly. I have since found out that The Concrete Jungle won Best Novella (Hugo 2005); I'm not surprised: the longeurs in The Atrocity Archive are mostly absent in the novella.

In every other aspect, I was impressed by this "novel". The pacing is generally good, the concepts interesting, the plot, though a bit Deightonish (deliberately so: Stross includes an afterword that gives his views on Deighton's work) is intricate enough without becoming confused.

I ought to admit that I don't read horror - King's Dark Tower series doesn't, I think, count - so I don't know how good or original Stross is being on the horror front.


EDIT: Now I've read more about the book on Wiki, I see that there is a "sequel", a set of stories entitled The Jennifer Morgue. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

 

[Ian Whates]

EDIT: Now I've read more about the book on Wiki, I see that there is a "sequel", a set of stories entitled The Jennifer Morgue. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

And more to come! Charles is planning at least two more 'Laundry' novels, the first of which should be out late 2008, as I understand it. So plenty more to enjoy yet.

 

[Ursa major]

I'll have to keep more eyes out for them, Ian!. Thanks.

 

[Thadlerian]

Re-reading Iain M Banks' Look to Windward. Not sure his books work as well on re-reads though

Have you got far? I've only read it once, but I thought it was one of the best Culture books, except perhaps for The State of the Art.

 

[Durandal]

Schismatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling. Alastair Reynolds was right - my face is melting.

That's a good one all right.

As for my reading...

Recently finished:
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Really, really loved it. One of the best books I've read in a while. Great ideas, great style, and I'm one of the few people who didn't hate the ending, apparently. Highly recommended.

Now reading:
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. I'm about 100 pages in and loving it. This'll be a fun ride, I think.

Next on the pile:
Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds. I'm just going to blow through this series back-to-back.

 

[DeepThought]

Finished A Game of You, a rather unusual one in that its not a collection of short pieces but rather a full length continuing story in which the Lord of Dream (supposedly 'main' protagonist) makes but a rather brief appearence. Yet in all fairness, it had a troupe of great characters both human and magical, the usual Gaiman poetic prose like fine wine that one could get drunk on and some grand acts of heroism, if I may say so from Willkinson, Martin Tenbones...etc. If not for the pompous introduction from Samuel R. Delany (hope I do not get whacked for saying this ) which serves more as an afterward than an intro IMO, another great addition to the classic saga. In the meantime still waiting for Joe Abercrombie's Before They are Hanged. Apparently my friend is still nose-deep in it, hope he's a fast reader Grrrrr... However, until such time, I'm dipping into yet another of Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels, the sixth volume in fact: Fables and Reflections.

Cheer's, DeepThought

 

[GOLLUM]

Now reading a double bill:

Couching At The Door (Story collection) - D. K. Broster & The Big Time - Fritz Leiber.

 

[j d worthington]

Will be very interested in your take on The Big Time, Mr. G. Have you read his other Changewar stories?

Changewar [WorldCat.org]

 

[tangaloomababe]

Not something I normally do but I am reading Atonement - Ian McEwan. I had planned to go see the movie, but the book was given to me as a chrissy present, so I had a change of plan.

 

[Omphalos]

I just got the two NESFA books by Chad Oliver for Christmas. I just finished a re-read of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Im half-way through my first reading of Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, an anthology of James Tiptree, Jr's novellas and short stories.

 

[gully_foyle]

Those are SF Masterworks, yes?

Not my copies, just old paperbacks.

 

[vurtomatic]

Willian Gibson's Spoool Country, Jeff Lindsay's Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Robin Hobb's Forest Mage.

 

[GOLLUM]

Will be very interested in your take on The Big Time, Mr. G. Have you read his other Changewar stories?

Changewar [WorldCat.org]

Nope, never have. I'm reading that book right now. The concept is interesting although not so original but I can't decide if I like the characters that much yet. Still early days. I won't have time to read other Changewar stories with all the books I own still to read. Maybe one day.

 

[Pyan]

Just starting Un Lun Dun, by [SIZE=-1]China Miéville.[/SIZE]

 

[ladyflorange]

Santa gave me David Gemmell's last.. Troy: Fall of Kings which I've almost finished. It's brilliant, but I'm very upset, as it's the last of his books that I haven't read and there won't be any more It's the end of an era....

Also, I just bought Hades Daughter by Sara Douglass and read the first chapter... looks good so far

 

[Rosemary]

Finished reading The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I really enjoyed it as it was an easy and enjoyable story, certainly not an 'epic fantasy'
Yes, there was some magic and a bit of blood and guts!

I'm about to start reading a book by Tom Lloyd. A new author for me and I am looking forward to it. Stormcaller is the first in what I think will be a trilogy...

 

[Rothgar]

Finished Robin Hobb's - Ship of Destiny. I really enjoyed the Liveships trilogy. Now I think it's time to read a couple more of Leiber's Lankhmar stories.

 

[j d worthington]

Nope, never have. I'm reading that book right now. The concept is interesting although not so original but I can't decide if I like the characters that much yet. Still early days. I won't have time to read other Changewar stories with all the books I own still to read. Maybe one day.

Oh, there are several characters (such as Erich) that are not at all likeable... but interesting. This is a novel that grows with re-readings (as does much of Leiber). Changewar, by the way, has a tale involving Greta's odd choice for a beau much more personally, as well as a quite lengthy tale involving Greta herself, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I....